The Housing Forum, the cross-sector industry body for housing and construction, has launched a report entitled, ‘Building Homes Better – The quality challenge’.
The report throws down the gauntlet to the housebuilding sector. Amongst other recommendations it calls for; a New Homes Ombudsman, increased quality standards to be incorporated into Building Regulations, the introduction of Quality Champions into project teams and a reversal of the deregulation of the sector.
There is a widespread and growing sense that our approach to housebuilding needs to change to give customers more choice and better quality.
Shelagh Grant CEO of the Housing Forum says “In the past week the Housing Minister has echoed our call for not simply more, but better homes and Dame Judith Hackitt has published her report into Building Regulation and Fire Safety which also draws attention to systemic challenges for residential construction. The Housing Forum’s membership is uniquely placed to make a tangible difference and this report sets out some of the changes we would like to see.”
Rory Bergin, partner at HTA Design who chaired the working group leads the call for improved standards: “The mistake has been made by some in the industry of confusing low cost or affordable housing with a sub-standard poorly finished product. Some companies have let the pressures for profit and speed override their natural concerns to deliver the best quality that they possibly can at an affordable price.
“We want a housing industry that delivers more for less, that aims for the highest quality in each price range, and which aims to deliver a right first-time product that we can all be proud of.”
The report sets out how this can be achieved through a series of new ideas, case studies and recommended changes to practices and policy. While the Working Group was established before the Grenfell Tower fire, much is pertinent to factors that lead to building failure. So much so that The Housing Forum has established a further group to consider the deeper causes of significant building failure.
Date:
A Quality Home for All
The Housing Forum campaigns for a quality home for all. If you’d like to find out more about our mission, we’d love to talk to you.